Florence and Gossip at NME Calling

Florence And The Machine and Gossip headed up a series of NME Calling shows in the capital over the weekend. They were eventful affairs – keep clicking for pictures from the shows. Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

2/22

Florence And The Machine kicked off NME Calling by playing a unique gig with Jarvis Cocker, Patrick Wolf, Kid Harpoon and Jack Penate, Friday November 27. Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

3/22

Billed as ‘Florence And Friends’, the gig at London’s Tabernacle venue saw singer Florence Welch joined by guests throughout her 12-song set. Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

4/22

The evening’s climax saw Welch and Cocker duet on a version of Pulp’s ‘Underwear’, before which Cocker joked “Do you think this is going to go well?!” to the audience. Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

5/22

“Tonight is all about collaborations, about people who I’ve worked with, and people who’ve inspired me,” Welch told the audience before inviting her first guest – Patrick Wolf – onstage to play ‘Cosmic Love’ and ‘Dog Days Are Over’. Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

6/22

Next up, Welch was joined by Jack Penate, who she revealed went to the same school as her (“We entered the same talent contest and both lost!”). The duo, backed by Welch’s Machine bandmates, ran through a version of her song ‘My Boy Builds Coffins’ before playing Penate’s ‘Every Glance’. Pic: Dan Dennison

Arriving on stage half-an-hour later than billed, the band played an energetic set at London’s HMV Forum that saw a night of cover versions, banter and Ditto coughing up her guts. Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

9/22

The frontwoman, dressed in a black sparkly dress, informed the audience that she’d “got the bronchitis” and paused several times throughout the night to address the issue. The illness had previously forced Gossip to cancel their Belgium and Birmingham shows due to medical advice. Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

10/22

Despite her illness, the singer was on energetic and chatty form, engaging with the crowd after every song about topics such as her love for London and Calvin Klein boxer shorts (the irony, according to the singer, being that ‘Klein’ in German is ‘small’). Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

11/22

The most bizarre banter of the night however was Ditto telling the audience “I started my period about four minutes ago and I was like ‘Oh no!'” before putting them on “bleed watch” and saying “If you see period stains you let me know!” Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

12/22

Playing a set mainly consisting of songs from latest album ‘Music For Men’, the trio also threw in a few surprises such as briefly covering Usher’s 2002 single ‘U Don’t Have To Call’ before ‘Four Letter Word’, and performing a full cover of Tina Turner’s ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ after the encore. Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

13/22

Before riotous finale ‘Standing In The Way Of Control’, Ditto began to sing the theme from US TV show ‘Saved By The Bell’ before launching into the hit 2006 single from the album of the same name. Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

14/22

NME Calling concluded on Sunday night, when MPHO headlined a free gig at the Old Queen’s Head, Islington, supported by The Moulettes (pictured). Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

15/22

Hoodlums, another support act at MPHO’s NME Calling show in north London. Pic: Dan Dennison

Credit: Dan Dennison

16/22

MPHO is the stage name of electro-pop artist Mpho Skeef. She’s good – have a listen on Myspace. Pic: Dan Dennison